The rental business has been uncovered as the new avenue for scammers to thrive. A Sydney resident has revealed how a scammer tried to do away with his hard-earned money for a property that’s not even available on the market.
Keep reading for all the details.
A Strong Warning
Cihan Kenar, a native of Rosebery, Sydney, has warned other renters after he was almost finessed of his money while making inquiries about a house too cheap to be true.
A Ridiculous Price
According to Kenar, the three-bedroom, free-standing property was advertised for rent at $400 weekly. This offer is much lower than any agent’s offer in the current market.
Suspicions Arise
After a series of conversations with the homeowner and upon request for property inspection by Kenar, he suspected foul play.
Flimsy Excuse
The supposed landlord gave an excuse of being too overwhelmed with requests from other interested customers as his reason for unavailability for inspection.
Asking For A Deposit
He then proceeded to request a refundable deposit before they met up.
Covers Blown
At this point, Kenan ran out of patience and confronted the landlord in the conversation.
Posting It On Facebook
Kenar shared a screenshot of their conversation on a Facebook group, where other people revealed they had similar experiences with the scammer.
One victim claimed they drove out to check out the building and spoke to the owner, who disclosed the house had never been advertised for rent and she has no plans of ever doing so.
An Act Of Deceit
Kenar told news outlets that the scammer tried to hurry him to pay, so he does not lose out on such a great deal. He added, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.”
ACCC
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported that a high number of people are falling for scams like this.
House Prices
The commission reported that the number of scams is increasing exponentially, alongside crazy rental price rises. This may be why Kenar wanted to jump on the cheap offer.
Huge Losses
The commission confirms that Australians have lost almost $550,000 due to rental scams and dubious homeowners. This number is a serious increase from 2021.
Aven Was Also A Victim
Last October, 21-year-old Aven also had his fair share of rental scams as he attended inspections, sent applications, and became stressed by the series of rejections during his home hunting.
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Light At The End Of The Tunnel
However, Ave found a ray of hope in the bleak situation as he got a text from a landlord who had previously rejected him. The landlord stated that someone was looking for a tenant, and Aven agreed to the offer.
$250/Week
According to Aven
A Skilled Scammer
The scammer sent photos of the passport, ID, and Medicare card of a man named Greg to “prove” his identity. He also sent over videos of the apartment at Napier Street, Fitzroy, making it feel legitimate.
Aven Sent The Money
The 21-year-old claimed the landlord asked for a $2000 bond, first month’s rent, and identification documents, all of which he provided as he claimed there was a time limit to his application and other tenants were interested in the house.
Unresponsive Landlord
After Aven paid the money, he noticed Greg would take days to reply to his texts or completely ice him out.
More Sophisticated
The executive director of Better Renting, Joel Dignam, revealed that the scammers are constantly upgrading their approach .
Lasting Solution
The chief executive of the NSW Tenants Union, Leo Patterson Ross, offered a lasting solution to the problem.